Alarm system with two-way voice

• US 7,920,842 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2007
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alarm.com Inc. (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alarm.com Inc. (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hutz, David James, Trundle, Stephen Scott, Martin, Jean-Paul, Goldfarb, David Saul
• Primary Examiner(s): WASHINGTON, ERIKA ALISE
• Application Number:
  US11/871,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20080311879A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/00 Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

Techniques are described for establishing a two-way voice communication session with an alarm system. The alarm system may establish a two-way voice communication session with an operator associated with a monitoring service that provides monitoring services for alarm events detected by the alarm system. The alarm system also may establish a two-way voice communication session with a notification recipient that is interested in receiving notifications associated with events detected by the alarm system.

Claims

1. A method of enabling a notification recipient to establish a voice communication session with an alarm system in response to the alarm system detecting an event, the method comprising:

receiving data over a wireless data channel, the data being transmitted from a wireless communication module included in an alarm system in response to the alarm system detecting an event, the data indicating the event;

subsequent to receiving the data indicating the event;

accessing, from electronic storage, stored information related to rules for identifying a notification recipient, the rules identifying different notification recipients depending on circumstances surrounding the event;

evaluating the circumstances surrounding the event against the rules for identifying a notification recipient; and

based on evaluation results, identifying, from among the different notification recipients, a particular notification recipient to be notified of the event;

based on identifying the particular notification recipient, accessing communication information configured for use in establishing a voice communication session between a mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient and the wireless communication module included in the alarm system; and

enabling establishment, over a wireless voice channel that is decoupled from the wireless data channel, of a voice communication session between the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient and the wireless communication module included in the alarm system based on the accessed voice communication information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the alarm system is a security system installed in a building, the security system being configured to receive a signal from at least one sensor and detect an event based on the received signal, and

enabling establishment, over the wireless voice channel that is decoupled from the wireless data channel, of the voice communication session between the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient and the wireless communication module includes enabling establishment of a voice communication session with the security system to enable the particular notification recipient to listen in on an area in the building and communicate with a person who is in the area in the building.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein enabling establishment, over the wireless voice channel that is decoupled from the wireless data channel, of the voice communication session between the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient and the wireless communication module included in the alarm system based on the accessed voice communication information includes:

transmitting a data communication to the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient;

receiving, from the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient, a command to initiate a voice communication session between the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient and the wireless communication module, the command being transmitted by the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient based on the mobile device receiving the data communication; and

forwarding the command to the wireless communication module to cause the wireless communication module to place a call, over the wireless voice channel, to the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein enabling establishment, over the wireless voice channel that is decoupled from the wireless data channel, of the voice communication session between the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient and the wireless communication module included in the alarm system based on the accessed voice communication information includes:

placing an automated phone call to the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient;

receiving a command, as part of the automated phone call, from the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient, the command being transmitted by the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient in response to user input provided by the particular notification recipient interacting with a call script of the automated phone call;

forwarding the command to the wireless communication module to cause the wireless communication module to place a call, over the wireless voice channel, to the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein enabling establishment, over the wireless voice channel that is decoupled from the wireless data channel, of the voice communication session between the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient and the wireless communication module included in the alarm system based on the accessed voice communication information includes:

transmitting, to the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient, a number and a passcode associated with the wireless communication module to enable the particular notification recipient to place a call to the wireless communication module using the number and to be authenticated by the wireless communication module using the passcode, and

transmitting the passcode to the wireless communication module to enable the wireless communication module to authenticate a call from the particular notification recipient based on the passcode.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein enabling establishment, over the wireless voice channel that is decoupled from the wireless data channel, of the voice communication session between the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient and the wireless communication module included in the alarm system based on the accessed voice communication information includes:

placing an automated phone call to the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient;

receiving a command, as part of the automated phone call, from the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient, the command being transmitted by the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient in response to user input provided by the particular notification recipient interacting with a call script of the automated phone call and the command requesting transfer of the automated phone call to the wireless communication module;

accessing a number associated with the wireless communication module; and

transferring the automated phone call to the wireless communication module using the accessed number.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein enabling establishment, over the wireless voice channel that is decoupled from the wireless data channel, of the voice communication session between the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient and the wireless communication module included in the alarm system based on the accessed voice communication information includes:

identifying the alarm system based on the received data;

determining that the identified alarm system has a two-way voice feature;

waiting for an automated phone call from the wireless communication module in response to determining that the identified alarm system has a two-way voice feature;

receiving an automated phone call from the wireless communication module;

accessing a number for the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient; and

transferring the automated phone call to the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient based on the accessed number.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein enabling establishment, over the wireless voice channel that is decoupled from the wireless data channel, of the voice communication session between the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient and the wireless communication module included in the alarm system based on the accessed voice communication information includes:

placing a first automated phone call to the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient, the first automated phone call being placed by an automated phone system;

receiving a command, as part of the first automated phone call, from the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient, the command being transmitted by the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient in response to user input provided by the particular notification recipient interacting with a call script of the first automated phone call and the command requesting a voice communication session with the wireless communication module;

transmitting, to the wireless communication module, a command to initiate a call to the automated phone system;

maintaining the first automated phone call with the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient;

receiving, from the wireless communication module, a second automated phone call that is different from the first automated phone call, the second automated phone call being received by the automated phone system; and

connecting the first automated phone call with the second automated phone call to establish a voice communication session between the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient and the wireless communication module.

9. The method of claim 1:

wherein accessing, from electronic storage, stored information related to rules for identifying a notification recipient includes accessing, from electronic storage, stored information related to rules for identifying a notification recipient based on type of event;

wherein evaluating the circumstances surrounding the event against the rules for identifying a notification recipient includes determining a type of the event based on the data indicating the event and evaluating the determined type of the event against the rules for identifying a notification recipient based on type of event; and

wherein identifying, from among the different notification recipients, a particular notification recipient to be notified of the event includes identifying, from among the different notification recipients, a particular notification recipient to be notified of the event based on evaluation of the determined type of the event against the rules for identifying a notification recipient based on type of event.

10. The method of claim 1:

wherein accessing, from electronic storage, stored information related to rules for identifying a notification recipient includes accessing, from electronic storage, stored information related to rules for identifying a notification recipient based on time of day;

wherein evaluating the circumstances surrounding the event against the rules for identifying a notification recipient includes determining a time of day of the event and evaluating the determined time of day against the rules for identifying a notification recipient based on time of day; and

wherein identifying, from among the different notification recipients, a particular notification recipient to be notified of the event includes identifying, from among the different notification recipients, a particular notification recipient to be notified of the event based on evaluation of the determined time of day against the rules for identifying a notification recipient based on time of day.

11. The method of claim 1:

wherein accessing, from electronic storage, stored information related to rules for identifying a notification recipient includes accessing, from electronic storage, stored information related to rules for identifying a notification recipient based on date information;

wherein evaluating the circumstances surrounding the event against the rules for identifying a notification recipient includes determining a date of the event and evaluating the determined date against the rules for identifying a notification recipient based on date information; and

wherein identifying, from among the different notification recipients, a particular notification recipient to be notified of the event includes identifying, from among the different notification recipients, a particular notification recipient to be notified of the event based on evaluation of the determined date against the rules for identifying a notification recipient based on date information.

12. The method of claim 1:

wherein accessing, from electronic storage, stored information related to rules for identifying a notification recipient includes accessing, from electronic storage, stored information related to rules for identifying a notification recipient based on a combination of factors including type of event, time of day, and date information;

wherein evaluating the circumstances surrounding the event against the rules for identifying a notification recipient includes determining a type of event of the event, a time of day of the event, and a date of the event and evaluating the determined type of event, the determined time of day of the event, and the determined date of the event against the rules for identifying a notification recipient based on the combination of factors including type of event, time of day, and date information; and

wherein identifying, from among the different notification recipients, a particular notification recipient to be notified of the event includes identifying, from among the different notification recipients, a particular notification recipient to be notified of the event based on evaluation of the determined type of event, the determined time of day of the event, and the determined date of the event against the rules for identifying a notification recipient based on the combination of factors including type of event, time of day, and date information.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the wireless data channel is a GSM/GPRS data channel; and

the wireless voice channel is a GSM voice channel.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the data is transmitted by the wireless communication module as Internet Protocol packets over a wireless data channel configured to transport Internet Protocol packets, and

enabling establishment of the voice communication session includes exchanging cellular voice communications over a wireless voice channel configured to transport cellular voice communications.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the data is transmitted by the wireless communication module as a Short Message Service (SMS) message over a wireless data channel configured to transport SMS messages, and

enabling establishment of the voice communication session includes exchanging cellular voice communications over a wireless voice channel configured to transport cellular voice communications.

16. A system for enabling a notification recipient to establish a voice communication session with an alarm system in response to the alarm system detecting an event, the system comprising:

an alarm system including;

a wireless communication module,

at least one of a contact sensor, a motion sensor, a glass breaker sensor, a temperature sensor, a smoke sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, or a panic button sensor,

a speaker positioned within audible range of an area proximate to the at least one sensor, and

a microphone positioned within audible range of the area proximate to the least one sensor;

a recipient mobile device configured to exchange wireless communications, the recipient mobile device being associated with a notification recipient; and

an alarm server, remote from the alarm system and the recipient mobile device, the alarm server being configured to exchange wireless communications with the recipient mobile device and the wireless communication module included in the alarm system, wherein;

the alarm system is configured to;

receive a signal from the at least one sensor,

detect an event based on the received signal, and

control the wireless communication module to transmit data, to the alarm server, over a wireless data channel, the data indicating the event;

the alarm server is configured to;

receive, over the wireless data channel, the data indicating the event,

identify the alarm system based on the received data,

identify the event based on the received data,

identify the notification recipient based on the identified alarm system and the identified event,

access communication information associated with the identified notification recipient, the communication information including communication information for the recipient mobile device, and

transmit a wireless communication to the recipient mobile device based on the accessed communication information, the wireless communication indicating the event, the recipient mobile device is configured to;

receive, from the alarm server, the wireless communication indicating the event,

render a display of information associated with the event based on the received wireless communication,

receive user input, from the notification recipient, the user input indicating a desire of the notification recipient to establish a voice communication session with the alarm system based on the notification recipient perceiving the information associated with the event, and

transmit, to the alarm server, a message, the message indicating the desire of the notification recipient to establish the voice communication session with the alarm system, the alarm server is further configured to;

receive, from the recipient mobile device, the message, and

in response to receiving the message, transmit, over the wireless data channel, a command to the wireless communication module to initiate a voice call to the recipient mobile device, and

the alarm system is further configured to;

receive, from the alarm server, the command, and

in response to receipt of the command;

access a phone number associated with the recipient mobile device,

place, over the wireless voice channel that is decoupled from the wireless data channel, a voice call to the recipient mobile device using the accessed number; and

establish, over the wireless voice channel, a voice communication session with the recipient mobile device based on the voice call, the voice communication session enabling the notification recipient to listen in on the area proximate to the least one sensor using the microphone and speak to a person in the area proximate to the least one sensor using the speaker.

17. An alarm server comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one computer-readable storage medium coupled to the at least one processor having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving data over a wireless data channel, the data being transmitted from a wireless communication module included in an alarm system in response to the alarm system detecting an event, the data indicating the event;

subsequent to receiving the data indicating the event;

accessing, from electronic storage, stored information related to rules for identifying a notification recipient, the rules identifying different notification recipients depending on circumstances surrounding the event;

evaluating the circumstances surrounding the event against the rules for identifying a notification recipient; and

based on evaluation results, identifying, from among the different notification recipients, a particular notification recipient to be notified of the event;

based on identifying the particular notification recipient, accessing communication information configured for use in establishing a voice communication session between a mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient and the wireless communication module included in the alarm system; and

enabling establishment, over a wireless voice channel that is decoupled from the wireless data channel, of a voice communication session between the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient and the wireless communication module included in the alarm system based on the accessed voice communication information.

18. The alarm server of claim 17 wherein:

the alarm system is a security system installed in a building, the security system being configured to receive a signal from at least one sensor and detect an event based on the received signal, and

enabling establishment, over the wireless voice channel that is decoupled from the wireless data channel, of the voice communication session between the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient and the wireless communication module includes enabling establishment of a voice communication session with the security system to enable the particular notification recipient to listen in on an area in the building and communicate with a person who is in the area in the building.

19. The alarm server of claim 17 wherein enabling establishment, over the wireless voice channel that is decoupled from the wireless data channel, of the voice communication session between the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient and the wireless communication module included in the alarm system based on the accessed voice communication information includes:

transmitting a data communication to the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient;

receiving, from the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient, a command to initiate a voice communication session between the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient and the wireless communication module, the command being transmitted by the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient based on the mobile device receiving the data communication; and

forwarding the command to the wireless communication module to cause the wireless communication module to place a call, over the wireless voice channel, to the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient.

20. The alarm server of claim 17 wherein enabling establishment, over the wireless voice channel that is decoupled from the wireless data channel, of the voice communication session between the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient and the wireless communication module included in the alarm system based on the accessed voice communication information includes:

placing an automated phone call to the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient;

receiving a command, as part of the automated phone call, from the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient, the command being transmitted by the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient in response to user input provided by the particular notification recipient interacting with a call script of the automated phone call;

forwarding the command to the wireless communication module to cause the wireless communication module to place a call, over the wireless voice channel, to the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient.

21. The alarm server of claim 17 wherein enabling establishment, over the wireless voice channel that is decoupled from the wireless data channel, of the voice communication session between the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient and the wireless communication module included in the alarm system based on the accessed voice communication information includes:

transmitting, to the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient, a number and a passcode associated with the wireless communication module to enable the particular notification recipient to place a call to the wireless communication module using the number and to be authenticated by the wireless communication module using the passcode, and

transmitting the passcode to the wireless communication module to enable the wireless communication module to authenticate a call from the particular notification recipient based on the passcode.

22. The alarm server of claim 17 wherein enabling establishment, over the wireless voice channel that is decoupled from the wireless data channel, of the voice communication session between the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient and the wireless communication module included in the alarm system based on the accessed voice communication information includes:

placing an automated phone call to the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient;

receiving a command, as part of the automated phone call, from the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient, the command being transmitted by the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient in response to user input provided by the particular notification recipient interacting with a call script of the automated phone call and the command requesting transfer of the automated phone call to the wireless communication module;

accessing a number associated with the wireless communication module; and

transferring the automated phone call to the wireless communication module using the accessed number.

23. The alarm server of claim 17 wherein enabling establishment, over the wireless voice channel that is decoupled from the wireless data channel, of the voice communication session between the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient and the wireless communication module included in the alarm system based on the accessed voice communication information includes:

identifying the alarm system based on the received data;

determining that the identified alarm system has a two-way voice feature;

waiting for an automated phone call from the wireless communication module in response to determining that the identified alarm system has a two-way voice feature;

receiving an automated phone call from the wireless communication module;

accessing a number for the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient; and

transferring the automated phone call to the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient based on the accessed number.

24. The alarm server of claim 17 wherein enabling establishment, over the wireless voice channel that is decoupled from the wireless data channel, of the voice communication session between the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient and the wireless communication module included in the alarm system based on the accessed voice communication information includes:

placing a first automated phone call to the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient, the first automated phone call being placed by an automated phone system;

receiving a command, as part of the first automated phone call, from the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient, the command being transmitted by the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient in response to user input provided by the particular notification recipient interacting with a call script of the first automated phone call and the command requesting a voice communication session with the wireless communication module;

transmitting, to the wireless communication module, a command to initiate a call to the automated phone system;

maintaining the first automated phone call with the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient;

receiving, from the wireless communication module, a second automated phone call that is different from the first automated phone call, the second automated phone call being received by the automated phone system; and

connecting the first automated phone call with the second automated phone call to establish a voice communication session between the mobile device associated with the particular notification recipient and the wireless communication module.

25. The alarm server of claim 17:

wherein accessing, from electronic storage, stored information related to rules for identifying a notification recipient includes accessing, from electronic storage, stored information related to rules for identifying a notification recipient based on type of event;

wherein evaluating the circumstances surrounding the event against the rules for identifying a notification recipient includes determining a type of the event based on the data indicating the event and evaluating the determined type of the event against the rules for identifying a notification recipient based on type of event; and

wherein identifying, from among the different notification recipients, a particular notification recipient to be notified of the event includes identifying, from among the different notification recipients, a particular notification recipient to be notified of the event based on evaluation of the determined type of the event against the rules for identifying a notification recipient based on type of event.

26. The alarm server of claim 17:

wherein accessing, from electronic storage, stored information related to rules for identifying a notification recipient includes accessing, from electronic storage, stored information related to rules for identifying a notification recipient based on time of day;

wherein evaluating the circumstances surrounding the event against the rules for identifying a notification recipient includes determining a time of day of the event and evaluating the determined time of day against the rules for identifying a notification recipient based on time of day; and

wherein identifying, from among the different notification recipients, a particular notification recipient to be notified of the event includes identifying, from among the different notification recipients, a particular notification recipient to be notified of the event based on evaluation of the determined time of day against the rules for identifying a notification recipient based on time of day.

27. The alarm server of claim 17:

wherein accessing, from electronic storage, stored information related to rules for identifying a notification recipient includes accessing, from electronic storage, stored information related to rules for identifying a notification recipient based on date information;

wherein evaluating the circumstances surrounding the event against the rules for identifying a notification recipient includes determining a date of the event and evaluating the determined date against the rules for identifying a notification recipient based on date information; and

wherein identifying, from among the different notification recipients, a particular notification recipient to be notified of the event includes identifying, from among the different notification recipients, a particular notification recipient to be notified of the event based on evaluation of the determined date against the rules for identifying a notification recipient based on date information.

28. The alarm server of claim 17:

wherein accessing, from electronic storage, stored information related to rules for identifying a notification recipient includes accessing, from electronic storage, stored information related to rules for identifying a notification recipient based on a combination of factors including type of event, time of day, and date information;

wherein evaluating the circumstances surrounding the event against the rules for identifying a notification recipient includes determining a type of event of the event, a time of day of the event, and a date of the event and evaluating the determined type of event, the determined time of day of the event, and the determined date of the event against the rules for identifying a notification recipient based on the combination of factors including type of event, time of day, and date information; and

wherein identifying, from among the different notification recipients, a particular notification recipient to be notified of the event includes identifying, from among the different notification recipients, a particular notification recipient to be notified of the event based on evaluation of the determined type of event, the determined time of day of the event, and the determined date of the event against the rules for identifying a notification recipient based on the combination of factors including type of event, time of day, and date information.

29. The alarm server of claim 17 wherein:

the wireless data channel is a GSM/GPRS data channel; and

the wireless voice channel is a GSM voice channel.

30. The alarm server of claim 17 wherein:

the data is transmitted by the wireless communication module as Internet Protocol packets over a wireless data channel configured to transport Internet Protocol packets, and

enabling establishment of the voice communication session includes exchanging cellular voice communications over a wireless voice channel configured to transport cellular voice communications.

31. The alarm server of claim 17 wherein:

the data is transmitted by the wireless communication module as a Short Message Service (SMS) message over a wireless data channel configured to transport SMS messages, and

enabling establishment of the voice communication session includes exchanging cellular voice communications over a wireless voice channel configured to transport cellular voice communications.